Tube-expander.



W. J. DOERFLER.

TUBE EXPANDER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17 1908.

Patented Sept, 21, 1909.

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W. J. DOERFLER.

'TUBE EXPANDER. .APPLIOATION FILED JAN.17, 1908.

934,800, I Patented Sept. 21, 1909.

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Witnesses, [a Mentor, f jz 116mm; if fiaezffez'. 3kg; /504 7 UNIT' caries.

WILLIAM DOERFLER, i CIZIZFITON, ILLINOIS.

TUEE-EXPAEEER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented S aph 21, 1909,

Application filed January 17, 1908. Serial No. 411,295.

of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Tube-Expander, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use my said inventio This invention" relates to devices for expanding the ends of leaky boiler-tines to el fectively stop leaks and for expanding other similar tubes in case enlargement ofthe end of the tube is desirable.

The purposes of this invent-ion are: to provide a mandrel of improved construction;

a head of improved construction cooperating with the mandrel; interchangeable rollers detachably connected with the head; simple and effective means for connecting the rollers with the head and means for reducing the friction of the head against the end of the boiler.

it-h these ends in View my invention consists in the novel features of construction and combinations of parts shown in the annexed drawings, to which reference is hereby made, and hereinafter particularly described and finally recited in the claim.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference letters and numerals designate like parts in the several views: Figure l is a perspective view of the complete device. Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of a detached straight roller. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of a roller of modified form. Fig. 4 is a'vertical axial section through the head and shows the mandrel and one roller in position in the head. F 5 is a vertical transverse section on the line 5. of Fig. 1, Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the head detached, and illustrates the placing of the rollers in the head and Figs. 7, 8, and 9, are respectively an end elevation, a side elevation, and an enlarged partial longitudinal section, of a tube expander equipped with ball bearings.

The mandrel A has a polygonal body and a tapering cylindrical stem a integral with the body. Holes a extending through the mandrel body acconunodate a rod or other instrument for turning the mandrel.

The head B is cylindrical and has a central longitudinal bore 7) of adiameter somewhat greater than the diameter of the mandrel stem (1. Longitudinal ways 6 extend from the circumference to the bore of the head and have at their inner ends pockets 6 The pockets b have curved bottoms, shown in Fig. conforming to the periphery oi the balls 0 of the rollers E and serving to keep the ballsaway from the surface f the stem a of the mandrel A.

A ring D tits'tightly around. the head and has segmentaltransverse notches (Z matching the ways Zr. V on the head. Rollers E, have integral globular lugs c. The rollers E fit loosely in the ways I) and turn freely therein. The lugs e fit loosely and turn in the pockets 3)? and prevent longitudinal movement of the roll ers.

The mandrel, the head, the ring and the rollers are all made of steel suitable for the purpose and the mandrel stern and the .rollers are hardened to resist the severe strain to which they are'subjected in use.

In order that the device may be efiective to operate on tubes of diflierent diameters,

rollers of diiierent diameters are provided, adapted to turn in the ways I) and the pock- A screw (1, secures the ring ets b and having cylindrical enlargements e varying in size according to the conditions of use.

A number of rollers having enlargements,

otditierent sizes may be used withthe same head and mandrel, thereby adapting the device for eliective use on tubes of different sizes.

In inserting rollers of uniform diameter, such as are shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the cylindrical parts of the rollers maybe inserted through the slots I) as shown in Fig. 6.

In order to insert rollers having cylindrical enlargements c, as shown in Fig. 3

- the ring D will be detached and the reduced cylindrical parts of the rollers will be inserted in the radial slots 7) with the globular ends of the rollers in the pockets b and the ring will then be replaced and secured on the head.

When the rollers are in place in the ways, with the globular lugs in position in the pockets, the projecting ends of the rollers will be inserted within the tube to be expanded, the mandrel will then be inserted between the rollers and driven inward until the rollers bind tightly against the inner wall of the tube; arod or other suitable instrument will be inserted through the hole a and the mandrel will he turned to cause the llO will have in its face a circular channel at rounding the periphery of thering D and ring D when the balls G are in place between the rin D and the plate F.

the end of the boiler or other structure, havrollers E to roll on and expand the wall at the tubeand this operation will be repeated until the tube is expanded as desired.

A practical advantage of a tube expander constructed and arranged as described is that b providing anumber of setsof rollers of di erent sizes a great variety of work may accomplished by using a single head an a single mandrel, cooperating with allthe rollers of different sizes, and the operator is enabled t o execute any ordinary job of work withoiitcarrying with him numer ous cumbersome sets of heads and mandrels.

In case ball bearings are used the ring D adapted --to accommodate balls Gr. An annular late F has on its inner face a circumferential channel f", matching the channel 9 and accommodating the balls 'G. The plate. F also has an integral flange surprojecting beyond the face of the ring D.

Screws f pass through the flange f and serve to keep the plate]? in position on the In-practica use the plate F bears against ing fines to be expanded; and the ring turns within the plate F, and runs on the balls Gr thereby reducing friction to the minimum.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a tube expander, the combination of a head having a central bore and radial pock I ets having bottoms conforming to the pe-.

riphery of ballsfittingin said pockets also having radial ways lengthwise of the head and extending through the wall of the head and terminating in the "pockets thereof: a

ring detachably connected with said'head;

and rollers provided with cylindrical stems fitting in said ways of said head,"also provided with balls fitting in the pockets of said'head and enlarged cylindrical parts extending beyond said head; and a mandrel extending through the bore of said head and contacting with the enlarged parts of said rollers. a I V In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Clinton, Illinois, this 26th day of September 1907 WILLIA J. DOERFLER.

Witnesses Y B. E. CoNLY,

" FRED L. HoY'1'. 

